***Ding: Mission Accomplished***
Mana core formation detected.
Additional information has been unlocked by the system. Mana gathering technique ready for selection. Caution: This cannot be undone.
Name: Thomas Plantagenet
Age: 15
Level 3: 5/100
Health: 50/50
Mana: 00/100
Mana absorption rate: 5 mana/min
Bloodline: None
Strength: 7
Agility: 6
INT: 9
Charisma: 3
Wisdom: 5
Abilities: Appraisal
Description: Ability to analyze any person or thing within 2 levels of your power band. ex: you can view up to 3rd circle mages but are unable to view 3rd circle and beyond.
System, I just unlocked mana with my core. Why am I at zero? Also what's up with my Talent being low still?
***Host, all available mana within you went to the core formation. You will still need to gather mana in order to fuel spells and advance to the next stage. Your talent will change depending on which absorption technique you choose. Currently it still shows
Please select from the following mana gathering techniques:
Thunder God Lightning Rod technique-
This technique provides the Host with a lightning affinity added to your mana. This technique will allow for a 50% increase to your normal mana absorption rate. Learning and mastering lightning based skills with be significantly accelerated. Additionally, using this path will also slightly raise your AGI stats. Stats will be updated once a mana absorption path is selected.
Griffin Sky Lord Tornado technique-
This technique provides the Host with a wind affinity added to your mana. This technique will increase your normal mana absorption rate by 75% but will lock Earth spells from use. You trade off an element being locked for additional mana absorption which can make you a terror on the battlefield.
Nocturnal Dragon Multi-Element technique-
An obscure absorption technique that allows for all elements to have boosted proficiency. Host will receive a 100% absorption bonus with the drawback that mana absorption can only happen at night. At higher circles, your magic may take on the form of a dragon when cast.
The Lazy Dragon Monarch technique-
You do not get an absorption bonus to your mana but you passively absorb mana constantly without the need to meditate. Additionally, you can utilize all elements with slightly boosted effect. The rest Host would have to figure out for themselves. The creator of this technique was not that great at leaving notes behind.
(A/N: I wanted to give techniques that sounded cool and if they gave good bonuses; they had an equally awful drawback)
While other spells can still be cast, the cost will be higher and the effect diminished. For this reason, most mages tend to stick to the affinity of their absorption method.
Thomas had a lot to think about. Nocturnal Dragon sounded so cool and having his spells look like dragons would be neat. Having said that, what was the useful application of a spell looking like a dragon outside of just looking cool? Not to mention only being able to absorb at night. Having a wind affinity through Griffin and lightning through the Thunder God sounded useful but Griffin was automatically out due to being locked out of the earth element.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Thomas made his selection hoping that he wasn't making a huge mistake.
System, give me the Lazy DragonMonarch technique. Hopefully this works out for thebest.
***Ding: Selection made- Now dispensing absorption method. Brace yourself, Host. This may sting a little.***
A flood of information streamed into Thomas' brain. Everything from breathing regulation to a better feel for mana around him settled into his mind.
Name: Thomas Plantagenet
Age: 15
Level 3: 5/100
Health: 50/50
Mana: 00/100
Mana absorption rate: 5 mana/min
Breathing technique: Lazy Dragon Monarch
Bloodline: None
Strength: 7
Agility: 6
INT: 9
Charisma: 3
Wisdom: 5
Abilities: Appraisal
Description: Ability to analyze any person or thing within 2 levels of your power band. ex: you can view up to 3rd circle mages but are unable to view 3rd circle and beyond.
***Now that you have formed your core and selected your breathing technique, it is time to provide you with your beginner gift pack.
You have gained the Gold Dragon Monarch bloodline. Use it wisely.***
Oh geez, I just wanted to make enough money to now have to work again and find out what happened to my mother. I didn't expect all of this happening.
***Host, it's time you recognized that the only people getting that kind of life are the strong. You'll learn shortly.***
What's that supposed to mean?
His thoughts were interrupted by an intense searing pain located just behind his heart that seemed to spread throughout his body. Lorilei was frantic, unsure if she should continue to watch or go get an adult. As she stood to make her way back to the ballroom to get some help, she heard a faint voice reach her ears. "Wait, I'm alright."
Looking back, she saw Thomas but he looked to be slightly different. Eyes that were once blue now contained a golden ring around them. The mana floating in the air almost distractedly swirled around him as if waiting for their turn to be absorbed. Her eyes, uniquely attuned to the fluctuations of mana, could see that he was still absorbing mana even while not actively meditating. She herself required a particular environment to meditate in for the best results with her mana. "How is he doing this?" she thought to herself. Shaking her head, she crept back toward where he still crouched prone.
"Are you alright?" she asked, worried that something had gone wrong with his core stabilization.
"More or less. Apparently when my core stabilized, my bloodline activated."
"Blood....line? BLOODLINE?! Don't just say that casually, do you know how rare those are? I'm considered the strongest mage in our generation and I don't even have one." Lorilei exclaimed, feeling like her universe had suddenly tilted. "How are you feeling? I can honestly say, it was not a normal core formation."
"Like a different person honestly. Like I can feel more around me than before and I feel almost silly for not feeling mana before." Thomas got up from the crouch that pain had put him in. Stretching, he could feel mana filling his core and flowing out to each of his limbs. He knew he hadn't gotten physically stronger but it was like adrenaline had filled him and he was eager to exercise this magic.
***Host, please note: while you have mana and a bloodline, you do not currently know any spells. This is why I said you need a teacher.***
Turning to look at Lorilei, Thomas bowed his head. "Please teach me magic, Lady Lorilei. I will do anything to get a better understanding of magic. State your terms and I will see if I can agree to them."
"Thomas, I might be gifted but I don't know if I can teach anyone at my level. Let me think on your request and I will get back to you."
"Well, well, well. What do we have here." (A/N: cliché I know but I had writer's block on a good villain intro lol) The duo looked to the ballroom, seeing a young man with a goblet in hand walking in their direction, a sneer etched onto an otherwise handsome visage. Dressed in the sharp grey formal wear generally associated with the military of Valois, the young man continued to walk closer to the group. "Dear Lady Lorilei, I have been hoping to make your acquaintance all evening. Perhaps you would keep me company instead of this bumpkin?"
"Huuuuh? Who are you to judge the company I keep?" Lorilei asked, incredulous that a nobody from the party would be so presumptuous.
"Forgive me, my lady. I am Draven Osterland, heir to the Osterland family in Valois. I have long heard rumors of your beauty and for once the rumors turned out to be true. Let us talk and further deepen what I hope to be an extraordinary bond between a future man and wife?"
"Lorilei, forgive me for saying this but I don't think this man has the best intentions. If you'd like for me to leave, just say so but I think it best we head in now." Thomas interjected, spotting a tense situation on the horizon.
"Fool, can't you see I am talking with the beautiful lady? Butt out and go get us some drinks. Maybe then one person will have been useful in this Duchy." Draven stated with some venom. "Better yet, I challenge you to a duel. Winner gets the hand of the beautiful Lady Lorilei."
"I am not some commodity to be traded. Duel if you must but my hands remain to myself," Lorilei stated, hoping to end this farce before it began.
"As she said, we will not duel for her hand in marriage. It would devalue the wife I hope to be tied to." Thomas agreed, not feeling comfortable having a duel "for the lady's honor".
"Thank you for your concern, Thomas. Let's head inside."
The duo proceeded to walk past Draven and had almost reached the threshold to the ballroom when he heard it. "You know there was a wh*re that was married off to this Duchy. The foolish Duke thought she was a member of nobility but honestly no one that filthy would have been worth of Valois nobility. What was her name again? Oh right, Victoria I think it was. Rumor has it shortly after she gave birth, the Emperor found out about it and had her killed. Oh well, what's one less wh*re."
Thomas' body moved before his brain had caught up to what he was doing, his fist landing squarely with Draven's nose. The sickening crack along with a wail of pain alerted those inside the party to the events outside.
"WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS!" shouted Duke Geoffrey, accompanied by an equally angry attendant to the Osterland entourage.
"Thomas, come with me. You have much to answer for and we intend to get to the bottom of whatever happened here."